Less than a month after undergoing emergency heart surgery, country music legend Mark Chesnutt has announced he will be returning to the stage.
The 60-year-old posted a flyer on Instagram announcing his appearance at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama on October 9th for a show featuring “The Songs and Stories of Dean Dillon.”
Fans were excited by the announcement, but also offered some caution.
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“Mark please go out there fully prepared,” one person wrote. “We will always be there for you but I hope you stay healthy so we can be together for many more years to come. I have been your fan for 30 years this year and I gave you a photo from our 30th anniversary in Arkansas a few months ago. God bless you Mark.”
“Wow!! To be back on tour so soon!!” another wrote. “Awesome, Mark!! Can't keep a good man down!!”
You can read Chesnutt's post and response here.
Chestnut has only been active on Instagram since he was rushed into hospital in June and underwent quadruple bypass surgery, and just a week ago he promised to return soon.
“It feels amazing to sing 2 notes of one of my songs and then the crowd goes wild!,” he wrote alongside a short video clip from the concert. “I'm at home resting and recovering but can't wait to sing with my band and fans again!”
This post wasn't the first time he's spoken to fans on Instagram since his surgery.
“Hey guys, the doctors told me I have a new heart!” Chestnut previously wrote. “I am recovering comfortably at home with my family. I sat on the porch today and enjoyed the sun and beautiful Texas weather. But I can't wait to get back to playing guitar and singing with all of my beloved fans! Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. They helped me in my time of need and have meant the world to me. I'm so grateful for you all. See you soon!”
Chesnutt's health scare comes just months after he was forced to cancel two shows in November of last year, with a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account at the time saying he was “admitted to a local hospital undergoing a medical examination.”
Chesnutt rose to stardom in the early '90s, releasing numerous albums and hit songs, including 20 that reached the top 10 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Eight of those 20 songs, “Brother Jukebox,” “It Sure Is Monday,” “I'll Think of Something,” “I Just Wanted You to Know,” “Gonna Get a Life,” “Almost Goodbye,” “I Don't Want to Miss a Thing” and “It's a Little Too Late,” all reached No. 1 on the charts.